This guide introduces 9 of the best upcoming ICOs in 2024 that meet our strict investing criteria. Each has solid upside potential and offers the opportunity to invest from the ground up.
ICOs or initial coin offerings are the best way to invest in brand-new cryptocurrencies before they get listed on major exchanges like Binance and their prices spike. Ethereum, Filecoin, Chainlink, and many other billion-dollar cryptocurrencies raised funds via ICO campaigns.
Here are our top picks for the best ICO 2024 investments.
Best Crypto ICO Presales to Invest In — December 2024
- Pepe Unchained - the first meme crypto project running on its own Layer 2 blockchain
- Viral presale has raised $11 million with staking rewards currently at 175% APY for early investors
- $PEPU's Layer 2 blockchain means reduced operational costs, faster speeds, and lower fees
- ETH
- USDT
- Debit
- +1 more
- Cat themed meme coin here to dethrone the top dogs
- Stake $SLAP tokens to earn high rewards
- Fair launch straight to DEX meaning everyone has access
- USDT
- Debit
- ETH
- Stake all the top meme coins on one platform
- Earn staking APY of over 5,000% for staking $STARS
- $STARS holders get 3x the rewards
- ETH
- USDT
- BNB
- +1 more
- Innovative Vote-to-Earn protocol where users can vote on the projects direction and earn $FLOCK
- Decentralized meme coin puts power back in the hands of the community
- Earn a huge ROI by staking $FLOCK tokens
- ETH
- USDT
- BNB
- +1 more
- Enjoy super low transaction fees in the Best Wallet ecosystem by holding $BEST
- Best Wallet users get early access (and the lowest price point) to the Best Wallet Token presale
- Have a say in the Best Wallet roadmap by voting on Governance proposals
- BNB
- Debit
- ETH
- +1 more
- Hot Meme Coin Project With Play to Earn Utility and Staking
- Price has Pumped 10x in Last Month, Rumored to be Listing on Binance
- Over 12k Holders and Growing
- ETH
- USDT
- Debit
- New Politifi meme coin where you vote for your favorite candidate
- Multi-chain meme coin on Base, Solana, BNB, Ethereum and more
- Get airdropped when your candidate wins debates
- ETH
- BASE
- SOL
- +3 more
- Collect POKE characters in this Pokemon-style game
- Tap-2-Earn mechanics let you play and earn $POKE
- Integrated with Telegram for easy access
- USDT
- TON
- Layer-2 Solution for Dogecoin blockchain with huge staking rewards
- Bridge instantly from Ethereum to Dogecoin with cheap transaction fees
- Meme coin bringing DeFi to the Dogecoin universe
- ETH
- Tether
- BNB
- +1 more
- Invest in luxury rental cars from prestigious brands like Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Mercedes-Benz
- Earn monthly rental income in USDT, paid on the first of every month
- Dreamcars is the first Web3 platform where you can buy, sell, and trade shares in supercars starting at just $10
- ETH
- BNB
- World's first crypto payment protocol that integrates efficiently with card machines, making crypto payments widely accessible.
- Through a user-friendly payment APK, SpacePay lets customers buy with crypto while allowing merchants to receive funds in their local fiat.
- SpacePay's native governance token, SPY, gives holders access to airdrops, exclusive features, as well as voting rights and quarterly connect webinars.
- ETH
- USDT
- AVAX
- +5 more
- State-of-the-art crypto project allowing users to predict F1 racing outcomes to earn rewards.
- Early presale investors can stake-to-earn tokens with dynamic rewards currently over 6,800% p/a.
- 40% of total supply (2.5Bn) is allocated to the presale, with over $140k raised already.
- BNB
- Debit
- ETH
- +1 more
- Stake $LHUNT and earn a portion of every LuckHunter casino transaction from the Co-Owner Pool
- Enjoy reduced fees on transactions, withdrawals, and in-game purchases on the LuckHunter Casino
- Holders can get early access to new games, exclusive features, and premium events
- ETH
- Tether
- BNB
- +2 more
Top 9 Upcoming ICOs List
Top ICOs to Invest In | Why They’re Important |
---|---|
Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) | Best crypto ICO in 2024, innovative layer 2 project that’s raised over $50 million |
Catslap ($SLAP) | Biggest cat-themed meme coin, ICO raised over $20 million in just a few days |
Crypto All-Stars ($STARS) | Crypto project that’s shaking up the meme coin staking game, raised over $6 million |
Flockerz ($FLOCK) | First ever decentralized vote-to-earn meme coin project, over $3 million raised |
Best Wallet Token ($BEST) | ICO for a decentralized wallet which helps users find trending meme coins early |
FreeDum Fighters ($DUM) | U.S. politics-themed meme coin, ICO has raised almost $700K |
SpacePay ($SPY) | New project revolutionizing POS payments with easy crypto transactions, over $600K raised |
Dreamcars ($DCARS) | World’s first-ever blockchain platform letting token holders own shares in luxury cars and earn up to 50,000 USDT in rental income |
Race to a Billion ($RACE) | Addictive P2E-based project that will allow players to place bets on virtual races |
A Closer Look at the Best Upcoming Crypto ICOs
Here are some of the factors that helped our crypto experts find the best ICOs:
- Project goals
- Crypto token use cases
- ICO exposure and hype
- ICO discount
Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming crypto initial coin offering list and break down the 9 projects in detail.
1. Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) — Best Crypto ICO in 2024, Innovative Layer 2 Project That’s Raised Over $50 Million
- Funds Raised During ICO: $50 million+
Pepe Unchained ($PEPU) is one of the most exciting and innovative active ICOs to hit the meme coin space. Built on the layer 2 (L2) blockchain, Pepe Unchained offers instant bridging between ETH and Pepe Chain, low transaction fees, and 100x faster speeds than ETH.
Network | Layer 2 |
---|---|
Buy With | ETH, USDT, BNB, Card |
Current Price | $0.01295 |
$PEPU holders can benefit from high staking rewards since the platform reduces operational costs by offloading transactions from the main network. Those who have already purchased $PEPU through the ongoing ICO can stake their holdings to earn a live APY of over 60%.
From $PEPU’s total supply of eight billion, 1.6 billion tokens are being distributed for the ICO. Currently, $PEPU is priced at only $0.01295 per token. Within a couple of months, Pepe Unchained has raised more than $50 million. Read the Pepe Unchained whitepaper and join the Telegram channel to stay tuned for more project updates.
2. Catslap ($SLAP) — Biggest Cat-Themed Meme Coin, ICO With a Market Cap of $10 Million+
- Market Cap: $10 million+
Catslap token ($SLAP) is a trending community-driven crypto that has emerged as the biggest cat-themed meme coin, boasting a market cap of over $10 million. Its simple but addictive slapping game keeps its players engaged as they compete against each other globally.
Network | Ethereum |
---|---|
Buy With | ETH, USDT, BNB, Card |
Current Price | $0.002318 |
$SLAP, the native token, had a fair launch and is now listed on the popular Uniswap decentralized exchange (DEX), giving it immediate access to a wide range of traders. It launched with a market cap of $1 million, showing that continued strong performances might eventually lead Catslap to list on Binance and other popular platforms.
For now, Catslap focuses on its community as the meme coin allocated 10% of the total $SLAP supply for community rewards. $SLAP token holders can earn an attractive 40% APY by staking their coins. There’s also plenty of potential for a speculated P2E game and airdrop campaign.
Check out the Catslap whitepaper and follow the project on X and subscribe to the Telegram channel.
3. Crypto All-Stars ($STARS) — Crypto Project That’s Shaking Up the Meme Coin Staking Game, Raised Over $6 Million
- Funds Raised During ICO: $6 million+
Crypto All-Stars ($STARS) is one of the best ICOs to invest in, as it will allow investors to stake multiple meme coins in one place, the MemeVault. Once launched, holders of popular coins like Dogecoin, Bonk, Pepe, and Brett can easily stake their tokens and earn $STARS rewards.
Network | Ethereum |
---|---|
Buy With | ETH, USDT, BNB, Card |
Current Price | $0.0016319 |
$STARS token holders can earn up to 3x more rewards. The presale has already raised over $6 million, with investors getting in early to take advantage of the potential returns.
Interested investors who buy early during the ICO benefit from a discounted price, which goes up every few days. There’s also a dynamic staking yield of over 324%.Being dynamic means it drops as more tokens are staked.
Read the Crypto All-Stars whitepaper to learn more about this project. Also, follow Crypto All-Stars on X and join their Telegram group to get the latest news, or visit our guide on how to buy Crypto All-Stars.
4. Flockerz ($FLOCK) — First Ever Decentralized Vote-to-Earn Meme Coin Project, Over $3 Million Raised
- Funds Raised During ICO: $3.3 million
Flockerz ($FLOCK) is a revolutionary new meme coin project that aims to give power to the people. Built around a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) called Flocktopia, this project aims to create a community-driven ecosystem where holders can have a say in decisions, governance, and development.
Network | Ethereum |
---|---|
Buy With | ETH, USDT, BNB, Card |
Current Price | $0.006175 |
Flockerz has raised over $3 million since its launch, making it one of the best presales in the meme coin world. Early investors also benefit from a strong staking yield of 633% APY.
Out of the total 12 billion tokens, 2.4 billion are allocated for the presale. The team has allocated 25% of the token supply for the staking rewards and another 25% for the voting rewards.
Follow the Flockerz’ X account and join the project’s Telegram channel to get the latest updates.
5. Best Wallet Token ($BEST) – ICO for a Decentralized Wallet Which Helps Users Find Trending Meme Coins Early
- Funds Raised During ICO: $1.2 million+
The Best Wallet ecosystem aims to provide exclusive benefits to wallet users with its recently launched $BEST Token presale. Only users of the Best Wallet app can access the exclusive early presale stage, which allows them to grab $BEST tokens at a discounted price of just $0.0228.
Network | Ethereum |
---|---|
Buy With | ETH, USDT, BNB, Card |
Current Price | $0.0228 |
It’s worth noting that $BEST tokens offer various advantages to their holders. These include lower transaction fees across the Best Wallet ecosystem, early access to new project presales, higher staking rewards, and even governance rights.
By holding $BEST, users can access early-stage presales through the “Best Wallet Upcoming Tokens page.” This will allow you to invest in promising crypto projects before they are publicly available.
Interested buyers can subscribe to the Best Wallet’s Telegram channel and follow the project on X for the latest updates.
6. FreeDum Fighters ($DUM) – U.S. Politics-Themed Meme Coin, ICO Has Raised Almost $700K
- Funds Raised During ICO: $647K
FreeDum Fighters ($DUM) is a satirical meme project that has been soaring since its presale launch in October 2024. This active ICO parodies U.S. politics, letting users support one of two sides – Kamacop 9000 or MAGATRON, both of which give different staking APYs. MAGATRON offers 241.37% APY, while Kamacop 9000 offers a higher 378.88% APY.
Network | Ethereum |
---|---|
Buy With | ETH, USDT, BNB, Solana, Card |
Current Price | $0.000103 |
Once launched, FreeDum Fighters will host weekly debates and award the winners with $DUM token airdrops. DFrom a 270 billion token supply, 108 billion tokens are being distributed across 4 ICO rounds.
Currently, $DUM is priced at $0.0001. In just a month, the ICO has raised almost $700K. Learn more about this meme coin by reading the FreeDum Fighters whitepaper and joining the Telegram channel. For more information on how to invest in $DUM, visit our guide on how to buy FreeDum Fighters.
7. SpacePay ($SPY) — New Project Revolutionizing POS Payments With Easy Crypto Transactions, Over $600K Raised
- Funds Raised During ICO: $640K
SpacePay ($SPY) is a decentralized payment protocol designed to drive wider crypto adoption by enabling seamless crypto transactions at retail locations, regardless of the terminal used. Recently launched through its active ICO, the $SPY token offers multiple use cases for users, making it easier for merchants and customers to integrate cryptocurrency into everyday transactions.
Network | Ethereum |
---|---|
Buy With | ETH, USDT, USDC, Card |
Current Price | $0.002275 |
Through SpacePay’s POS (Point-of-Sale) protocol, users can scan the QR code on the SpacePay device and connect with over 325 crypto wallets to make the payment.
To promote the platform, SpacePay will offer multiple benefits through its $SPY token. For instance, the most active monthly users will be awarded with $SPY token airdrops. Token holders will get exclusive access to new features and services on SpacePay and can also join webinars and get voting rights.
So far, the SpacePay ICO has raised over $600K within a few days of launch. Learn more about the project by going through the SpacePay whitepaper and joining the Telegram channel.
- Funds Raised During ICO: $600K
Dreamcars ($DCARS) is currently one of the most innovative ICOs to invest in because it’s revolutionizing the luxury car rental market by allowing investors to own shares in high-end vehicles like Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Rolls-Royces via blockchain. Holders can buy fractional ownership in luxury rental cars for as little as $10 and earn monthly rental income paid in USDT.
Network | BSC |
---|---|
Buy With | ETH, USDT, BNB |
Current Price | $0.011 |
Early investors can grab $DCARS for just $0.011 at press time. The platform also offers exciting rewards, including exclusive NFTs, staking benefits, and rental credits for purchases starting at $1,000.
What makes Dreamcars particularly attractive is its real-world utility and income potential. Each car in its fleet can generate up to 50% APY from rental income, with monthly earnings distributed to token holders. The platform is expanding to prime locations, including Dubai, Miami, and Marbella.
Read the Dreamcars whitepaper to learn more about their vision of democratizing luxury car ownership. You can also follow Dreamcars on X (Twitter) and join the project’s Telegram channel for the latest updates.
9. Race to a Billion ($RACE) — Addictive P2E-Based Project That Will Allow Players to Place Bets on Virtual Races
- Funds Raised During ICO: $200K+
Race to a Billion ($RACE), formerly known as Billion Dollar Jackpot, is a decentralized platform that merges blockchain with sports prediction, letting users earn rewards by predicting the outcomes of virtual races featuring meme coin characters.
Network | Ethereum |
---|---|
Buy With | ETH, USDT, BNB, Card |
Current Price | $0.00817 |
Its supply cap is 2.5 billion tokens, 40% of which are available at a discount in the current ICO. The remaining tokens are reserved for different purposes, such as staking and platform development.
Currently, early buyers can get $RACE for just $0.00817. This price will soon increase in the next ICO round. Currently, early buyers can stake $RACE to earn an APY of over 2,961%.
Buyers can enter Race to a Billion’s Telegram channel and follow it on X (Twitter) to get the latest news.
Choosing the Best Upcoming ICOs – ReadWrite’s Methodology
With countless ICOs launching, it can be tough to identify the ones with the most potential. At ReadWrite, we focus on projects that offer strong use cases and long-term growth.
Here’s our methodology for picking the best ICOs:
- Project Goals: We prefer ICO projects with a clear objective. This objective should solve a real-world problem or improve existing products and services. SpacePay ($SPY) is a great example of this as it’s driving greater crypto adoption by introducing NFC crypto payments at POS.
- Crypto Token Use Cases: Next, we look at whether the project has a strong use case for its native crypto token. A clear and practical use case can drive the token’s value over time, giving investors a solid reason to buy and hold it. For example, holders of Dreamcar’s $DCARS token can own fractional shares of luxury cars and earn rental income from them.
- ICO Exposure and Hype: The ICO space is highly competitive, and when we evaluate projects, we look for those that successfully attract a large number of investors. This often creates FOMO (fear of missing out) and generates significant hype around the project. Currently, the project grabbing the most attention is Pepe Unchained, with its ICO raising over $50 million so far.
- ICO Discount: At ReadWrite, we also keep an eye out for upcoming ICOs with early-bird discounts. Getting in early means you can secure a lower price and potentially see an immediate gain once the token hits the market.
What Are Initial Coin Offerings?
Initial coin offerings, more commonly referred to as ICOs, are the most popular way to invest in new cryptocurrency projects. Before the cryptocurrency launches on public exchanges, tokens will be sold to ICO investors, allowing investors to purchase the tokens at the best price possible.
ICOs usually have a soft and hard cap target, which are the minimum and maximum amount the ICO aims to raise.
Investments are usually made with popular cryptocurrencies like Tether or BNB, but you can also use other top altcoins for your purchases as well. After the ICO finishes, investors receive their tokens. In most cases, the tokens will then be listed on exchanges—often at a higher price.
ICO Snapshot
The main appeal of ICOs is that you’ll be investing in a cryptocurrency project from the ground up. Some of the most successful and popular presales or ICOs of all time include Ethereum, Filecoin, EOS, and Chainlink. That said, thousands of ICOs have been launched in recent years. Some have gone on to secure huge growth, while others have failed.
Benefits of Investing in 2024 Crypto ICO
Here are some of the main advantages of investing in the best upcoming ICOs:
- First-Mover Advantage: ICOs allow you to invest in quality cryptocurrencies before they’re launched to the public, so you’ll secure a first-mover advantage. Investors paid just $0.31 for Ethereum during its ICO event in 2014, meaning they’ve made life-changing returns.
- Invest in Micro-Cap Tokens: Many ICO projects are still a “concept” rather than a working product, meaning they carry little value. This can be beneficial once the project achieves its roadmap targets. As an ICO investor, you’d be getting in at a micro-cap valuation, giving you the potential for massive gains.
- Preferential Pricing: New crypto ICOs understand the risks involved, which is why they offer investors a discounted price. This means you’ll pay a lower token price than the general public. What’s more, you can often secure an immediate upside, as some ICOs increase the price incrementally.
- Exceptional Risk-Reward Ratio: Although ICOs are risky, they offer a solid risk-reward ratio. You don’t need to invest large amounts to make significant gains. For example, Shiba Inu started with a price of $0.000000000056 during its ICO. It later reached an all-time high of $0.00008845, delivering a staggering gain of over 157,000,000% for ICO investors.
- Diversification: Finding the next Ethereum, Chainlink, Tezos, or Cardano is not an easy feat. After all, new ICOs enter the market regularly. That said, this makes it simple to create a diversified ICO portfolio. Suppose you have $1,000 to invest. You could consider diversifying your $1,000 investment across 10 different ICO projects at $100 each. While there’s potential for significant returns if one project performs exceptionally well, always remember that the ICO market carries risks, and outcomes are unpredictable.
Risks of Investing in Crypto ICOs
Before investing, you must understand that 2024 initial coin offerings are a risky investment. Here are some risks you should be aware of:
- ICO Scams: While most ICO projects aim to provide value, some are designed to deceive investors. These projects may lack a genuine development plan, using the ICO as a front to siphon funds from investors. According to CoinTelegraph, 17% of tokens on the Base network are scams, highlighting the importance of doing thorough research before investing in any project.
- Token Prices Can Go Down: After the ICO ends, tokens are often listed on major exchanges like Binance, typically at a higher priceThere is always the risk that the tokens will decline in value, leaving you with a loss if you sell. This can happen if many ICO investors dump their tokens at the same time. Always be prepared for losses when investing in ICOs, as not all will generate growth.
- Wallet Hacks: Like all digital assets, new crypto ICO tokens must be stored in wallets. If you’re not well-versed in wallet security, you’re putting your investment funds at risk. For instance, a recent breach of a US government crypto wallet, which resulted in the theft of $20 million, shows how easily hackers can access wallets remotely. If a hacker gains access to your wallet, they can steal your ICO tokens (and any other tokens stored inside). Always use a reputable private wallet that comes with solid security tools to protect your investments.
Where to Find the Best ICO to Invest in 2024
One of the easiest ways to find the top ICOs is to check notable ICO listing websites, such as Coinmarketcap and CoinGecko. These websites will allow you to find in-depth information about upcoming and ongoing ICOs. You’ll also be able to compare their metrics.
You can also follow crypto influencers and KOLs to keep in touch with the latest crypto trends and upcoming crypto launches. For example, Crypto Zeus (81.2K subscribers) on YouTube regularly shares updates on new presales.
How to Invest in Upcoming Crypto ICOs
Visit the Official Website
First, most upcoming ICOs will be launched on the project’s website. This means traders can invest directly, without needing to use a third-party exchange. For example, investors can easily buy $PEPU on Pepe Unchained’s official ICO platform right now.Connect Your Wallet
Investors will need to connect a private wallet to the ICO website. Use a reputable and trustworthy wallet like Best Wallet.Fund Your Wallet With an Accepted Payment Method
Top ICO 2024 campaigns collect investment funds in established cryptocurrencies. This will often include Tether, Ethereum, and BNB. You’ll need an accepted cryptocurrency in the wallet you connect to the ICO website.Choose the Number of Tokens You Want to Buy
Next, investors will have to specify how many ICO tokens they want to purchase. For example, if each token is priced at $1 and they have $1,000 worth of Ethereum to invest, they would buy 1,000 tokens.Confirm Your Purchase
The final step is to confirm the ICO investment via your connected wallet. This ensures that only the wallet owner can authorize the payment. The cryptocurrencies will then be transferred to the ICO project.
Some ICOs will release your tokens instantly, meaning they’ll be transferred to your connected wallet. For instance, those investing in the Catslap token will receive their $SLAP tokens straight away.
They can then deposit $SLAP tokens into the staking pool to earn APYs of 40%. In other cases, the project will complete the token transfer after the ICO has finished.
Either way, the ICO project will usually list its tokens on a crypto exchange after the fundraising campaign is over. This enables the general public to buy and sell the tokens, which will determine their market value.
How to Avoid ICO Scams
Avoiding ICO scams can be challenging, as new crypto projects launch regularly, and blockchain technology is evolving rapidly. With the market growing increasingly competitive, not every new project will succeed like Bitcoin.
However, if you choose to invest in ICOs, it’s important to identify legitimate projects and avoid scams.
- Research the Team Behind the Project: Make sure that these are real people with successful projects behind them. If you can’t find any information about the project founders, that should be a red flag. Legitimate projects will always be transparent about their development team. Avoid investing in ICOs whose developers do not engage with their communities.
- Read the Whitepaper: ICOs must have a whitepaper that states their goals, roadmaps, strategies, and tokenomics systems. The whitepaper will also contain information about the development team. Avoid projects that don’t offer whitepapers, have unrealistic roadmaps, and don’t publish details about their tokenomics systems.
- Check How the Token Presale Is Progressing: Legitimate projects will publish a presale widget that clearly states their presale goals, the number of sold tokens, and raised funds. If these figures do not progress over time, the project may be a scam.
Are Upcoming ICOs a Good Investment?
Investing in upcoming ICOs is risky since these projects are still developing. This is why it’s important to read their whitepapers. This will help you find out what problems they are trying to solve and how.
On the other hand, investing in the best upcoming ICOs may offer high returns since their price will be much lower during the presale period. Also, many ICO coins have a staking option, which will enable investors to earn passive income.
In short, investing in ICOs is a good option if you want to diversify your portfolio with new projects that show growth potential. However, never invest more than you can afford to lose, and always conduct thorough research to avoid scams.
What’s the Most Popular ICO in 2024?
Now that you’ve learned about 9 new ICOs set to launch in 2024, you have a better understanding of the exciting opportunities in the crypto space.
The best upcoming ICOs will allow you to invest in brand-new cryptocurrencies before they go live on public exchanges. While the long-term upside can be huge, make sure you consider the risks before proceeding.
Currently, one of the most popular ICOs is Pepe Unchained, which has raised nearly $60 million and continues to attract attention. The initial coin offering will end in 14 days, but it’s important to carefully assess any investment and conduct thorough research before making any decisions. Always be cautious when participating in ICOs.